Observations of the World

[Zazu]

*IF* you are staying on property (which from your post I am guessing you were) they give you a card with a phone number on it.

While this card might be nice, they aren't routinely offered to guests at the Contemporary, nor anywhere else I'm aware of.

Not an entirely bad idea though. You could ask for a direct number for your resort and try that.

[Goofyernmost]

Having been in the bus transportation business for many years I can confidently tell you that there is ALWAYS more to the story. Guests are occupied with other things, they are not paying attention to an incident until it escalates to a scene. What led up to it is not witnessed in many cases.

That driver was violating company policy in multiple ways. One way was covering her name tag, they are supposed to be on the outer layer of clothing and always visible.

Note the bus number and time and Transportation can figure out who the driver was.

That was what I was going to suggest.

Oh, there is plenty more. And some of the things she was saying, I will admit, need to be said. But the problem was mainly not in what she was saying, but in how she was saying it.

To a family with a child in a stroller: "It's against the law to bring her on my bus in the stroller! It's not my rule, it's a federal law! Take her out of the stroller!" Later, to a girl carrying an open bottle of water (this is the one who started crying): "You can't bring that in here! Throw it away!" (Maybe asking her to put the cap on would've been enough?)

She was very snappy and rude about it, and that's what bothered me. Yes, people should not be eating or drinking on the bus. But what ever happened to the word please?

I overheard one family getting off the bus: "We are NEVER taking a Disney bus again."

Ask this question...were you able to witness what happened previous to the stroller incident. For example, had the guest been informed nicely that it wasn't allowed? Did they then proceed to argue with the driver about how, "the kid just fell asleep, I have no intention of waking him/her up because you want the stroller folded." Thus leading the driver to make the comment that was made. I've heard that so many times it might as well be a recording. In the meantime the rest of the bus wants to go and the driver is wasting time with an idiot that feels that rules do not apply to them.

In the second incident...are you sure it was water in the container. I know of no rules that wouldn't allow a bottle of water without a cap, to not be carried on the bus. Something doesn't fit properly with that story.

As for the comment about never riding a Disney bus again...I'm sure the place will survive without them getting a free ride wherever they want to go. The sense of entitlement in todays world is getting to the point of being nauseating. I really fear for us as a society.

[EmptyCinema]

For the record, I did not intend for this to end up in a debate of this sort. Sorry for that. :)

Ask this question...were you able to witness what happened previous to the stroller incident. For example, had the guest been informed nicely that it wasn't allowed? Did they then proceed to argue with the driver about how, "the kid just fell asleep, I have no intention of waking him/her up because you want the stroller folded." Thus leading the driver to make the comment that was made. I've heard that so many times it might as well be a recording. In the meantime the rest of the bus wants to go and the driver is wasting time with an idiot that feels that rules do not apply to them.

I was sitting immediately adjacent to the entrance, so I saw the whole exchange. Yes, the father was trying to lift the stroller with the child in it onto the bus. However, the comment (and attitude) I described was the first exchange between the driver and the father. I know that the stroller must be folded on the bus, but I've seen plenty of drivers ask in a much more appropriate tone and wording.

In the second incident...are you sure it was water in the container. I know of no rules that wouldn't allow a bottle of water without a cap, to not be carried on the bus. Something doesn't fit properly with that story.

It was a Dasani water bottle and the contents of the bottle was a clear liquid. Beyond that, I could not verify the contents, but neither could the driver. :) I believe she was concerned about the possibility of a spill. I would be too, but I would ask along the lines of "Would you please close your water bottle until we get to <destination>? I just don't want it to spill if we have to make a sudden stop or turn."

As for the comment about never riding a Disney bus again...I'm sure the place will survive without them getting a free ride wherever they want to go. The sense of entitlement in todays world is getting to the point of being nauseating. I really fear for us as a society.

No, that is true. I'm not saying I'll miss those people on the bus, but it gives the hard-working bus drivers a bad name.

[Goofyernmost]

OK, so you answered the questions and I have to agree that with what you have said the driver was way out of line. They should have at least tried to be civil originally. The water thing is still a mystery to me. Spilling water is easily fixed with paper towels, nothing to get upset about.

I agree, that one bad driver can give them all a black eye. That isn't fair to the others and probably isn't tolerated if Disney knows it's happening. Sorry, but I instinctively always give the driver the benefit of the doubt until the evidence proves me wrong. It's just my way. I know how hard it is to be a good bus driver and how little respect they get. Bus drivers are always considered Ralph Cramdon's and garner little in the way of praise. When I investigate allegations against a driver, I always start out with the idea that many people out there just love to focus attention on themselves by stating half truths and made up situations. From what you said that does not apply in this case.

[EmptyCinema]

OK, so you answered the questions and I have to agree that with what you have said the driver was way out of line. They should have at least tried to be civil originally. The water thing is still a mystery to me. Spilling water is easily fixed with paper towels, nothing to get upset about.

I agree, that one bad driver can give them all a black eye. That isn't fair to the others and probably isn't tolerated if Disney knows it's happening. Sorry, but I instinctively always give the driver the benefit of the doubt until the evidence proves me wrong. It's just my way. I know how hard it is to be a good bus driver and how little respect they get. Bus drivers are always considered Ralph Cramdon's and garner little in the way of praise. When I investigate allegations against a driver, I always start out with the idea that many people out there just love to focus attention on themselves by stating half truths and made up situations. From what you said that does not apply in this case.

I totally understand. I believe most complaints against CMs (especially transport CMs it seems) are blown out of proportion by the guest making them. Additionally, I've only ever had the misfortune to need to complain about a CM once before.

In most cases, I understand that a CM may be having a bad day, so they might be a bit short or not quite as cheery as the Disney image. That being said, there's still a line and I was just disappointed that at least part of whatever was going on was taken out on a child.

I'm glad you defend bus drivers -- most of them deserve all the support we can give them.

[Cranbiz]

A few things I noticed this past week down at the World.

1. Are cast members being "strongly encouraged" to wear the years-of-service pins on their name tags? It seems like many more had it than I've seen before.

2. What does "DH" mean on a bus marquee? For example, I saw busses going to Pop Century with "DHPC". The last two letters are obviously a resort code. Since every bus I saw with this was empty, I suspect it means "deadhead" or similar.

Also had a fun bus driver who spent the entire time yelling at the bus over the PA system... to the point where kids were crying because of her. WORST Cast Member I have ever seen. She also made sure her jacket was on and zipped far enough up that nobody could get her name. A shame, because then I would've likely reported her. Nobody should tarnish the name of cast members like that.

I'll probably have more later, but this is all I can think of right now.

1) I don't know about anyone else, but I'm proud of the fact that I got my steamboat Willie pin and hope to get my 5 year pin as well. I proudly wear mine on my nametag

2) You got it, its a deadhead route to that resort. Why it's on the marquee now is a mystery.

3) Please report her. If you got the bus number, day and time, we can find her. While she is making valid points to SG's, there is a right way and a wrong way and it sounds like the wrong way was being used.

You will get the stroller comments from me, in about those same words BUT it will be much nicer and polite. Although if onr continues to push me, you might get a "the stroller needs to be folded, now you can do it with the child in it but I don't recommend that."

[Big Wallaby]

Also had a fun bus driver who spent the entire time yelling at the bus over the PA system... to the point where kids were crying because of her. WORST Cast Member I have ever seen. She also made sure her jacket was on and zipped far enough up that nobody could get her name.

I don't refer to people who can't be nice as "Cast Member."

Never thought about that at the time... should've called while on board it. Oh well, now I know!

Agreed that such a card would be great to give to every guest. Didn't know there was such a thing either.

I was sitting immediately adjacent to the entrance, so I saw the whole exchange. Yes, the father was trying to lift the stroller with the child in it onto the bus. However, the comment (and attitude) I described was the first exchange between the driver and the father. I know that the stroller must be folded on the bus, but I've seen plenty of drivers ask in a much more appropriate tone and wording.

It's amazing how much nicer it is when you get on the guests' side of the issue... "I'm really sorry to have to do this to you, I see your child is sleeping, but I have to require you to take them out of the stroller and fold the stroller. If I didn't have to, I wouldn't... but the DOT doesn't have much of a sense of humor." Usually, I get to "sleeping" and they're starting to fold it without any complaint.

2) You got it, its a deadhead route to that resort. Why it's on the marquee now is a mystery.

Theory: There might have been enough drivers using the Deadhead routes to not transport people that they now have DH so that a supervisor can see what's going on on the bus. Just from certain experiences I had at DTD.

You will get the stroller comments from me, in about those same words BUT it will be much nicer and polite. Although if onr continues to push me, you might get a "the stroller needs to be folded, now you can do it with the child in it but I don't recommend that."

If you do it right (as Cranbiz and I both do) the first time, it usually doesn't come to that, but when it does I find that if I am having fun with it when the situation escelates to confrontation, I get better results, as they're not sure that I am completely sane. Which, of course I know I am not.

[EmptyCinema]

I knew you guys would handle the situation well. Just this one EMPLOYEE was off her rocker or something. If it's not too late to do so now, who is best to contact with the info? I do have the bus #, route, and time/date, so if it's still kept on record, I could definitely provide that.

I am planning to write a letter or email to WDW with compliments for a few CMs. I had intended to go to Guest Relations to praise them, but just didn't get time (the one time I went the line at GR stretched out the door, down the stairs, and over to the popcorn cart!)

We had the best Jungle Cruise ever, mainly because the boat's engine stopped and wouldn't restart (at the loading dock). The skipper took about 5 tries to restart it, had us all get off as a manager came over, and first time he tried to start it, it came right up. We all got back on as she (the skipper) made plenty of jokes at her own expense. However, I really got into it at the scene with the camp with the flipped over jeep. Skipper: "Looks like they finally got my jeep to turn over. I just couldn't get it started." Me: "Sounds like a recurring theme." She was just awesome, especially at keeping a boat full of passengers entertained through some technical difficulties.